2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in New York
[Public Administration](/majors/social-services-public-administration/public-administration/) degree programs vary widely in price and payoff across the country. A high-value program keeps cost low while graduates go on to earn well.
For its 2026 best-value ranking, College Factual looked at 27 schools to find the best return on investment for public administration students.
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2026 Best Value Public Administration Schools in New York
Below are the schools that deliver the strongest value in public administration, balancing cost against outcomes.
Best Value Public Administration Schools
Our analysis ranked Cuny Bernard M Baruch College the best value for a degree in public administration in New York. Set in the city of New York, Cuny Bernard M Baruch College is a very large public institution. In-state tuition and fees average $7,464, with out-of-state students paying around $15,414. Students borrow a median of $13,250 to complete the public administration program here. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cuny Bernard M Baruch College generally make around $58,595. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. The acceptance rate is 48%.
Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #2 spot this year. Located in the city of New York, Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice is a large public university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $7,470, compared with $15,420 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $13,895. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice generally make around $57,673. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Cuny John Jay College Of Criminal Justice admits about 57% of applicants.
Cuny City College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #3 spot this year. Set in the city of New York, Cuny City College is a large public institution. Students from in state pay about $7,340 in tuition and fees, while out-of-state students pay about $15,290. Students borrow a median of $13,389 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $57,399. Set against $13,389 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cuny City College admits about 60% of applicants.
Suny Empire State College is a great value for students pursuing a degree in public administration, landing the #4 spot this year. Suny Empire State College is a large public school located in the suburb of Saratoga Springs. Students from in state pay about $7,648 in tuition and fees, compared with $17,558 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,693. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Suny Empire State College generally make around $58,140. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value.
A rank of #5 makes Suny At Albany one of the best values for public administration. Suny At Albany is a very large public school located in the city of Albany. In-state tuition and fees average $10,601, compared with $30,991 for out-of-state students. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,521. Early-career public administration graduates make about $61,642. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Suny At Albany admits about 69% of applicants.
Columbia University In The City Of New York landed the #6 spot for public administration value this year. Set in the city of New York, Columbia University In The City Of New York is a very large private not-for-profit institution. Students from in state pay about $70,517 in tuition and fees. Typical student debt for public administration graduates is $23,258. Early-career public administration graduates make about $89,478. That is a strong return on a $23,258 median debt. The acceptance rate is 4%.
Suny College At Brockport ranked #7 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration schools. Located in the town of Brockport, Suny College At Brockport is a moderately-sized public university. Students from in state pay about $8,752 in tuition and fees, with out-of-state students paying around $15,822. Students borrow a median of $24,757 to complete the public administration program here. Public Administration graduates of Suny College At Brockport earn a median of $46,023 early in their careers. That is a strong return on a $24,757 median debt. Roughly 71% of applicants are accepted.
Suny At Binghamton came in at #8 for value in public administration this year. Suny At Binghamton is a very large public school located in the suburb of Vestal. In-state tuition and fees average $10,567, with out-of-state students paying around $30,447. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $20,691 in student loans. Public Administration graduates of Suny At Binghamton earn a median of $51,800 early in their careers. Set against $20,691 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 39%.
Metropolitan College Of New York ranked #9 on our 2026 list of the best value public administration schools. Metropolitan College Of New York is a small private not-for-profit school located in the city of New York. Expect in-state tuition and fees of around $20,188. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $42,218 in student loans. Soon after graduation, public administration degree recipients from Metropolitan College Of New York generally make around $49,765. That is a strong return on a $42,218 median debt. Metropolitan College Of New York admits about 90% of applicants.
Cornell University earned the #10 position for value in public administration this year. Cornell University is a very large private not-for-profit school located in the city of Ithaca. Students from in state pay about $69,314 in tuition and fees. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $15,005 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $61,190. Set against $15,005 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. Cornell University admits about 9% of applicants.
New York University came in at #11 for value in public administration this year. Set in the city of New York, New York University is a very large private not-for-profit institution. In-state tuition and fees average $62,796. Public Administration graduates carry a median of $21,897 in student loans. Early-career public administration graduates make about $82,887. Set against $21,897 in median debt, that is a healthy payoff. The acceptance rate is 9%.
Marist College came in at #12 for value in public administration this year. Marist College is a moderately-sized private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Poughkeepsie. Students from in state pay about $47,620 in tuition and fees. Students borrow a median of $25,962 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $84,712. Weighed against typical debt, the earnings make a compelling case for value. Roughly 56% of applicants are accepted.
Syracuse University placed #13 among the best values for public administration. Located in the city of Syracuse, Syracuse University is a very large private not-for-profit university. The average in-state cost of tuition and fees is $65,528. Students borrow a median of $26,000 to complete the public administration program here. Early-career public administration graduates make about $68,350. That is a strong return on a $26,000 median debt. Syracuse University admits about 46% of applicants.
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Notes and References
This list is compiled by College Factual (MF_RANKING_2025), 2026 edition. Schools are scored on the balance of cost (tuition and student debt) against student outcomes (post-graduation earnings) — a measure of return on investment, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
Ranking method: College Major Best Value · 27 schools evaluated.
*Averages shown above reflect the top 11 ranked schools only.
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
More about our data sources and methodologies.
